Fountain pen structure



April 19, W66 .1. G. MARBAN FOUNTAIN PEN STRUCTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed May '7, 1963 Ir Y INVENTOR. k FTAERPEZ/VJKBIM/ Arman United StatesPatent 3,246,632 FOUNTAIN PEN STRUCTURE Julian Gutierrez Marban, 6233Brooirview Ave. S., Minneapolis 24, Minn. Filed May 7, 1963, Ser. No.278,597 2 Claims. (Ci. 120-46) This invention relates to an improvementin the structure of a fountain pen. More specificaliy the inventionherein relates to an improvement in a fountain pen constructionproviding separate fluid chambers comprising a first chamber of nominalsize and a second chamber of substantial capacity.

It is an object of this invention to provide a fountain pen constructioncomprising an independent first or use chamber and a second or reservechamber wherein both chambers are filled simultaneously and ink may besubsequently transferred from the reserve to the use chamber without theneed for any moving parts in the construction of the fountain pen.

It is another object of this invention to provide a fountain penconstruction comprising independent chambers including a first chamberfor nominal use of ink and a second chamber containing a reserve supplyof ink and including a single stationary member designed to fill bothchambers simultaneously and further designed to transfer ink from thereserve to the use chamber.

It is more specifically an object of this invention to provide afountain pen construction comprising a pair of separate chambers and asingle stationary member designed to fill both chambers in a singleoperation with a portion thereof designed for a modified pumping action.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a fountain penconstruction having a use chamber and a reserve chamber and a stationarymember used for filling said chamber and transferring ink from onechamber to another with means to engage and actuate said stationarymember.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be fullyset forth in the following description made in connection with theaccompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer tosimilar parts throughout the several views and in which:

FIG. 1 is a central longitudinal section of a fountain pen embodyingapplicants invention with a portion thereof removed and a portionthereof shown in alternate position in dotted line;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view in longitudinal section showing a detail ofapplicants invention;

FIG. 3 is a view in vertical longitudinal section with a portion thereofbroken away and a portion thereof removed;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to that in FIG. 2 showing a modificationthereof;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to that in FIG. 3 showing a modificationthereof;

FIG. 6 is a view in central longitudinal section of a fountain penembodying a modification of applicants invention with some portionsthereof indicated in dotted line;

FIG. 7 is a view in central longitudinal section with a portion brokenaway and somewhat similar to that of the view in FIG. 6 with a portionthereof shown in a different position;

FIG. 8 is a broken view in longitudinal section showing a modificationof a portion of applicants invention; and

FIG. 9 is a view similar to that shown in FIG. 8 with a portion thereofremoved and a portion thereof shown in a different operating position.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 13, apreferred embodiment of applicants invention is present in the fountainpen structure indicated generally by the character 10 which comprises asubstantially cylindrical barrel 12 having portions 13, 14 and 15threaded together into a coaxial relationship.

The barrel portion 13 forms a lower housing portion having a free endportion 16 having an external taper thereto and being designed toreceive therein a conventional writing element 18 shown here to besecured therein by frictional engagement. Ink will feed through apassageway 19.

The barrel portion 14 forms a removable extension of the barrel portion13 extending away from said writing element, and the barrel portion 15forms a removable cap at the free end of said barrel portion 14.

An enclosing or capping member of conventional design will be used toenclose the writing element when not in use. Said enclosing member formsno part of the invention herein and is not shown.

Said barrel portion 13 has extending axially thereof in a direction awayfrom said writing element a tubular sac-like or sac member 20 having anopen end portion 29a sized to fit snugly within the edge portion of theopen end of barrel portion 13, as indicated in FIG. 1, and having aclosed end portion 20b of reduced transverse dimension. Said sac memberis very adequately held in position as indicated by frictionalengagement and in effect is integral with the barrel portion 13. In theinstant embodiment, said sac member is indicated as being formed of ayielding or squeezable material, such as of a suitable rubber or plasticmaterial. Said material shall have sufiicient body and rigidity to forma durable self-standing member.

Extending transversely of the interior of said barrel portion 13 is awall 21 having a central apertured hub portion 21a here shown to beconcentric with said barrel portion 13. Said barrel portion 13 is thusformed into a first or use chamber 23 from which ink is first drawn orused in the normal use of the pen and a second or reservoir chamber 25from which ink is transferred to said first chamber as may be required.As above described and as indicated in FIG. 1, said chamber 25 ispartially contained within said barrel portion 13 and partiallycontained within said sac member 20. In the present em bodiment thegreater portion of said chamber 25 is indicated as being containedwithin said tubular member 26.

The barrel portion 14 threading onto the barrel portion 13 encloses thegreater portion of said sac member 20 leaving uncovered the reduced endportion 29b, which end portion is enclosed by the cap portion 115, asindicated in FIG. 2.

It is seen that chamber 23 has free unobstructed communication with thewriting element 18.

Disposed longitudinally within said barrel 12 coaxially thereof andwithin said chambers 23 and 25 is an openended tubular member 3%) ofrelatively small transverse dimension and having a passageway 32extending therethrough. Said member 30 will be formed of a substantiallyrigid material and it extends through said hub portion 21a from a pointsubstantially centrally longitudinally of said chamber 23 to a pointwithin said chamber 25 and more particularly to a point within thereduced end portion of said sac member 20 spaced a relatively shortdistance from the closed end thereof. said tubular member 30 isstationarily mounted and will be suitably secured or anchored withinsaid hub portion 21a having an airtight engagement therewith.

Thus it is seen that save for communication through said tubular member30, said chambers 23 and 25 are completely separated from one another.

Carried at the free end of said tubular member 30 within said chamber 23is a hollow semi-spherical or '9 J cup-like deflecting member 33 securedto said tubular member by spaced struts 33a to deflect ink passing intosaid chamber 23 through said passageway 32.

Ink within appli-cants fountain pen structure is indicated by thecharacter 35.

Operation Commencing with applicants pen being free of any ink, thebarrel portions 14 and are removed from the barrel portion 13 uncoveringthe sac member 20. This member forms the pump of applicants penstructure. It is to be noted here that no moving parts are present inthe construction of applicants pen. It is true that barrel portions 14and 15 are moved away from the barrel portion 13, but there are nomoving parts in the operation of the pen. All parts are stationary andremain in fixed position. The sac member forming the pump is merelysqueezed in position. No springs, gaskets, glands, or special seals areused, which elements are necessary where moving parts are used.

The writing element is immersed into a supply of ink. The sac member 29Will be engaged at opposite sides thereof as by the tips of the thumband forefinger of the operators hand. Said member 26 will be squeezed,as indicated by the dotted lines in FIG. 1. This creates a powerfulsuction or pumping action drawing ink through the passage 19 intochamber 23.

The chamber 23 will first fill up with ink. Initially the pumping actionwill draw air from chamber 23 into chamber 25 through the passage 32 asink is drawn or moves from the ink supply into the chamber 23. At acertain point as chamber 23 is filled, ink will also move upwardlythrough the passage 32 into chamber 25. Eventually as ink fills thechamber 25, the air therein will be evacuated at each squeezing strokeof the pumping action. Chamber 25 may be completely filled with ink. Thepassage 32 will also contain a certain amount of ink. Said chamber 23will have some air therein as is common in any conventional pen.

When the pen is filled, it will be removed from the ink supply and thebarrel portion 14 carrying barrel portion 15 will be placed over the sac20 and threaded onto the barrel portion 13. It is noted here that barrelportion 15 in secured position, as indicated in FIG. 2, is designed tobear against the end of the sac 20 and press the same inwardly to seatagainst the open end of the tubular member and thus seal the chamber 25and thus closing chamber 25 off from any communication with the chamber23.

In the present embodiment, chamber 25 is shown to have approximatelythree times the capacity of chamber 23. The relative sizes of thesechambers may be in any ratio that may be desired.

When the ink supply 35 within the chamber 23 has been used up, ink willbe transferred thereto from the chamber 25.

To transfer ink from chamber 25 to chamber 23, the pen will be invertedwith the writing element 18 being upward. Then the cap portion 15 isremoved partially uncovering the reduced end portion of the sac member20.

The reduced end portion of the sac member 20 is now engaged between thethumb and forefinger of the operator and with a succession of relativelyshort or recipro cating gentle squeezing actions ink in small incrementsis transferred to the chamber 23. This gentle action in the transfer ofink avoids the discharge of any ink that might be trapped in the writingelement and the suction strokes of the squeezing action will tend todraw said ink which might be present in the Writing element, into thechamber 23. The deflecting member 33 prevents any direct discharge ofink into the writing element, such as by an unintentional sharpsqueezing of the portion 20b. When a sufficient supply of ink has beentransferred to the chamber 23, the cap 15 will be replaced and tightenedagainst the sac portion 20b seating the same against the adjacent end ofthe tube 30 cutting off communication between chamber 25 and chamber 23.The pen is now ready for use again. Referring to FIG. 3, the height ofthe tubular member 30 within the chamber 23 will determine the ink levelwithin said chamber relative to the transfer of ink from chamber 25. Anyink at a level above the height of said tubular member will be withdrawnwith the suction strokes of the squeezing action of the portion 20b.Thus the extent of said tubular member 30 into said chamber 23 may varyas may be desired.

Modification With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, a modification ofapplicants fountain pen structure indicated generally by the character40 is shown in which like characters are used to indicate portionsidentical with those above described. Only those portions representingthe modified structure are here described.

The principal change lies in the use of a plunger to actuate means forsqueezing the reduced end portion 20b of the sac member 20 for thepurpose of transferring ink from the chamber 25 to the chamber 23. Thebarrel portion 41 which is similar to the barrel portion 14 is providedwith an annular interior grooved shoulder 42 with the grooved portionthereof facing upwardly, as indicated in FIG. 4. Said barrel 41 has anend wall 43 enclosing the upper free end portion thereof and having acentral aperture 44 therein. A plunger 46 comprises a shank portion 47extending upwardly through said apertured end wall 43 and having acircular head portion 48 retained Within said barrel portion 41. Saidhead portion is shown having a small resilient washer 50 forming acushion and sealing member between said head portion and the innersurface of the end wall 43.

Depending from said head portion 48 are a pair of diametrically spacedelongated plate-like spring members and 56 having their respective upperends imbedded in said head portion 48 and suitably secured therein andhaving their lower end portions received within the groove portion ofthe annular collar 42. As indicated in FIG. 4, said spring members 55and 56 have a slight longitudinal concave curvature.

Spaced inwardly from said end wall 43 is a transverse plate member orweb 58 having spaced openings to accommodate the spring members 55 and56. Said plate member is integral with said barrel portion 41 and willbe positioned a sufiicient distance from said end wall 43 to allow roomfor the stroking action of plunger 46.

Enclosing the upper free end of the barrel portion 41 and the upwardlyextending shank 47 is an end cap portion 57.

The tubular member 30 is here shown without the addition of thedeflecting member 33.

Operation With reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, when applicants fountain penis in normal writing condition with the barrel portion 41 threaded fullyonto the barrel portion 13, the plate member 58 Will cause the adjacentend portion of the sac member 20 to bear against the adjacent open endof the tubular member 30 to seal off the chamber 25 from the chamber 23.

When it is desired to transfer ink from chamber 25 to chamber 23, thepen will be inverted and the end cap 15 will be removed to uncover theplunger 46. The barrel portion 41 will next be unthreaded from thebarrel portion 13 for a short distance, as indicated in FIG. 5, torelieve the portion 20b of the sac member 20 of the pressure of theplate member 58 for communication between the chambers 25 and 23. Theplunger 46 will next be operated with relatively short gentle strokes toflex the spring members 55 and 55 inwardly to squeeze the sides of theportion 2012 much in the same manner as the squeezing action indicatedin FIG. 3. This will create a gentle pumping action to move the ink 35.upwardly through the passage 32 and into the chamber 23.

Modification With reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, another modification ofapplicants pen structure is shown. Indicated generally by the character60 and in which portions identical with those first described inconnection with FIGS. 1-3 are indicated by like characters.

The barrel of the fountain pen structure is indicated generally by' thecharacter 61 comprising a portion 13 and a portion 62 which actuallycombines the portions 14 and 15 previously described into an integral orunitary barrel portion. In connection with said barrel portion 62 it isnoted that circular openings 62a and 62b in opposed relation are formedin said barrel portion and these openings will be of sufficient size toreceive therein the tip portions of fingers of the operator, such as ofthe thumb and forefinger. A sac member 63 is provided which is identicalto the sac member 20 with the exception that it has an upper end portionof substantially the same diameter as the body portion thereof insteadof having a reduced upper end portion as in connection with the sacmember 20. It is noted that the portions of said sac member 63 adjacentthe openings 62a and 6% are exposed at these points whereby said sacmember may be directly engaged as by the tips of the thumb andforefinger of the operator.

Operation The operation of the modified pen structure 60 is somewhatsimplified relative to the structures and 40 above described.

When this fountain pen structure is in Writing condition, the barrelportion 62 will be threaded fully onto the barrel portion 13, asindicated in FIG. 6, and the end portion of the sac member 20 will bedepressed sufficiently to bear against the adjacent end of the tubularmember 30 to seal said open end.

The steps to be taken in filling this modification of applicantsfountain pen structure will be the same as in connection with theembodiment indicated in FIGS. 1-3.

To transfer ink from chamber 25 to chamber 23, the fountain pen will beinverted, as indicated in FIG. 7. The pumping action is then applied bysuccessively squeezing the exposed portions of the sac member 63 with agentle action. Very little force is required to cause ink to betransferred from chamber 25 to chamber 23.

Modification Another modification of applicants pen structure is shownin connection with FIGS. 8 and 9. Only a fragmentary portion of thismodified structure is illustrated and it is indicated generally by thecharacter 65. A barrel portion 66 is indicated which represents amodification of the barrel portion 14. Said barrel portion 66 isprovided With an upper end Wall 67 having a portion 63 of reduced widthforming shoulders 69 and having a portion 70 of further reduced Widthwhich is externally threaded. Said end wall portion 67 has a centralaperture 71 extending axially therethrough. The inner end portion ofsaid end wall 67 has a cylindrical recess 72. A plunger 75 has a shank76 disposed through said aperture 71 having a head portion 77 receivableWithin said recess 72. Secured to the upper free end portion of theshank 76 is a cylindrical head portion 78 which will be seated on theupper outer surface of the end wall 67. An end cap 80 is providedadapted to enclose the upper stepped portion of the barrel portion 66.The shank 76 will be of such a length that when the end cap 86 isthreaded in position, said end cap will move the plunger 75 downwardlyto bear against the adjacent end portion of the sac member 63 to seatthe same against the adjacent open end of the tube 30 for a sealingengagement.

Operation The steps to be taken in filling the modification 65 of theapplicants fountain pen structure will be the same as those inconnection with the structure described in FIGS. 1-3.

To transfer ink for the chamber 25 to chamber 23, the pen is invertedand the end cap 80 will be removed. This will release the plungerstructure from the sac member 63 unseating said sac member from theadjacent end of the tubular member 30. The plunger 75 will then bereciprocated successively with gentle strokes and ink will betransferred from the chamber 25 into the chamber 23. The end wall 67will be designed to allow the adjacent end portion of the sac member 20to be fully extended when the cap is removed.

Thus it is seen that I have provided a very simple fountain penstructure formed of a minimum of parts and in which the preferredconstruction thereof is free of any moving parts. It will be noted alsoin the modifications of the preferred embodiment there are but verysimple moving parts. Applicants fountain pen structure is designed tohave an unusually large capacity of a reserve ink supply and a veryefficient and simple means for transferring ink from the reserve supplyof ink to the chamber from which ink is normally used.

It will of course be understood that various changes may be made in theform, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts, withoutdeparting from the scope of applicants invention which, generallystated, consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects aboveset forth, in the parts and combinations of parts disclosed and definedin the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A fountain pen structure having in combination,

a barrel,

a writing element carried at the forward end of said barrel,

a wall within said barrel dividing the interior thereof into first andsecond axially aligned chambers,

said first chamber being adjacent to and communicating with said writingelement,

a tubular sac-like member partially within said barrel independentthereof enclosing a portion of said second chamber remote from saidfirst chamber, said saclike member comprising yielding portions,

a stationary tubular member disposed within said barrel axially thereofextending through said wall portion to provide communication betweensaid chambers, said tubular member extending to a point adjacent the endof said sac-like member remote from said first chamher,

a detachable portion of said barrel enclosing said saclike member, saiddetachable portion in attached position engaging the adjacent endportion of said sac-like member to seat the same against an adjacentportion of said tubular member to seal said second chamber fromcommunication With said first chamber,

said detachable barrel portion having an end wall and a removable endcap portion enclosing said end Wall,

a plunger carried adjacent the inner side of said end :wall having ashank portion extending outwardly of said end wall,

an annular shoulder within said barrel portion spaced inwardly of saidend wall encircling the adjacent end portion of said sac-like member,and

a pair of diametrically opposed elongated plate spring members seated atone of their ends in said annular shoulder and seated at the other oftheir ends within said plunger whereby reciprocation of said plungerflexes said springs to queeze the adjacent wall portions of saidsac-like member to transfer ink from said second chamber to said firstchamber upon partial detachment of said detachable barrel portion.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1,

a plate member parallel to said end Wall integral with said detachablebarrel portion and spaced inwardly of said plunger whereby said platemember engages the adjacent end portion of said sac-like member to seatthe same against the adjacent portion of said tubular member to sealsaid second chamber from said first chamber with said detachable barrelportion in attached position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,239,971 9/1917Ruff 120 46X Savio 12046 Chamberlin 12046 Sager 120-46 Alstrorn 12042.16X

Wing 120'-42.16

Miessner 120-42.16

Von Platen 120-42.16

Marban 12042.16

EUGENE R. CAPOZIO, Primary Examiner.

JEROME SCHNALL, Examiner.

1. A FOUNTAIN PEN STRUCTURE HAVING IN COMBINATION, A BARREL, A WRITINGELEMENT CARRIED AT THE FORWARD END OF SAID BARREL, A WALL WITHIN SAIDBARREL DIVIDING THE INTERIOR THEREOF INTO FIRST AND SECOND AXIALLYALIGNED CHAMBERS, SAID FIRST CHAMBER BEING ADJACENT TO AND COMMUNICATINGWITH SAID WRITING ELEMENT, A TUBULAR SAC-LIKE MEMBER PARTIALLY WITHINSAID BARREL INDEPENDENT THEREOF ENCLOSING A PORTION OF SAID SECONDCHAMBER REMOTE FROM SAID FIRST CHAMBER, SAID SACLIKE MEMBER COMPRISINGYIELDING PORTIONS, A STATIONARY TUBULAR MEMBER DISPOSED WITHIN SAIDBARREL AXIALLY THEREOF EXTENDING THROUGH SAID WALL PORTION TO PROVIDECOMMUNICATION BETWEEN SAID CHAMBERS, SAID TUBULAR MEMBER EXTENDING TO APOINT ADJACENT THE END OF SAID SAC-LIKE MEMBER REMOTE FROM SAID FIRSTCHAMBER, A DETACHABLE PORTION OF SAID BARREL ENCLOSING SAID SACLIKEMEMBER, SAID DETACHABLE PORTION IN ATTACHED POSITION ENGAGING THEADJACENT END PORTION OF SAID SAC-LIKE MEMBER TO SEAT THE SAME AGAINST ANADJACENT PORTION OF SAID TUBULAR MEMBER TO SEAL SAID SECOND CHAMBER FROMCOMMUNICATION WITH SAID FIRST CHAMBER, SAID DETACHABLE BARREL PORTIONHAVING AN END WALL AND A REMOVABLE END CAP PORTION ENCLOSING SAID ENDWALL, A PLUNGER CARRIED ADJACENT THE INNER SIDE OF SAID END WALL HAVINGA SHANK PORTION EXTENDING OUTWARDLY OF SAID END WALL, AN ANNULARSHOULDER WITHIN SAID BARREL PORTION SPACED INWARDLY OF SAID END WALLENCIRCLING THE ADJACENT END PORTION OF SAID SAC-LIKE MEMBER, AND A PAIROF DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSED ELONGATED PLATE SPRING MEMBERS SEATED AT ONE OFTHEIR ENDS IN SAID ANNULAR SHOULDER AND SEATED AT THE OTHER OF THEIRENDS WITHIN SAID PLUNGER WHEREBY RECIPROCATION OF SAID PLUNGER FLEXESSAID SPRINGS TO QUEEZE THE ADJACENT WALL PORTIONS OF SAID SAC-LIKEMEMBER TO TRANSFER INK FROM SAID SECOND CHAMBER TO SAID FIRST CHAMBERUPON PARTIAL DETACHMENT OF SAID DETACHABLE BARREL PORTION.